What to do in Paris this week: the dachshund parade and 50 unmissable things to see and do
A week without boredom in Paris? Absolutely possible, and the period from 28 September to 4 October 2026 is proof of that. From a dachshund parade on the Champs-Élysées to the first events of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a Fashion Week open to the general public, there is no shortage of reasons to get out. Here is how to make the most of what to do in Paris this week.
Sporting and festive events to fill the week
On Saturday 3 October, Roland-Garros transforms into a giant skatepark to host the Street League Skateboarding, a Paris stop that brings together the best skateboarders in the world. On the same day, paddle enthusiasts can cover 10 kilometres of the Canal de l’Ourcq by canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard during Canal en pagaies, a sporty and convivial outing organised as part of the Été du Canal programme.
On 4 October, the 7th edition of the Paris Sausage Walk takes over the Champs-Élysées with a long procession of dachshunds. A wonderfully quirky, family-friendly event that draws hundreds of owners and curious onlookers every year. Meanwhile, the 2026 Pride March, postponed after being cancelled due to a heatwave, finally finds its new date in early October in Paris.
On the cycling front, the Vallée de Chevreuse plays host from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October to a festive race linking Paris to Nogent-le-Roi, designed for riders who want to pedal, party and meet fellow sports enthusiasts along the way.
Culture, exhibitions and shows: what to do in Paris for art lovers
Exhibitions are multiplying across the capital this week. At the Musée de l’Orangerie, Monet, peindre le temps opens on 30 September 2026 and runs until 25 January 2027. The exhibition explores how the Impressionist master captured both the instant and the passage of time, from his early open-air canvases to the monumental Nymphéas.
At the Grand Palais, the retrospective Cezanne et nous, conceived in partnership with the Centre Pompidou, the Musée d’Orsay and the Orangerie, brings together 174 masterworks until 17 January 2027. Alongside this, the BnF François-Mitterrand is dedicating an exhibition to Japanese photography since 1945, with around a hundred artists to discover until 31 January 2027.
For street art fans, StreetArt Denfert runs from 3 to 25 October in the former Zara space at Denfert-Rochereau, featuring around a hundred artists from the Île-de-France region across 800 m². Entry is free, with ticket reservations required.
- Monet, peindre le temps at the Musée de l’Orangerie, from 30 September 2026 to 25 January 2027
- Cezanne et nous at the Grand Palais, until 17 January 2027, featuring 174 masterworks
- Japanese photography since 1945 at the BnF François-Mitterrand, until 31 January 2027
- StreetArt Denfert, free exhibition from 3 to 25 October in the 14th arrondissement
- PENN & FASHION at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, from 30 September 2026 to 17 January 2027
On the theatre front, several new productions are worth your attention. Swan Lake returns to the Palais des Congrès on 1, 2, 3, 4 and 16 October, with dancers and a live orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s score. Alan Lucien Øyen reimagines Sophocles’ Antigone at the Théâtre de la Ville from 1 to 7 October, blending dance and theatre with nine performers. And Carnets d’Ukraine by Michel Hazanavicius opens at the Studio Marigny from 3 October, with Hugo Becker performing alone on stage.
What to do in Paris for food lovers and new restaurant openings
Food lovers have a date in Provins on 3 and 4 October for the Salon du Chocolat, with two days of demonstrations, interactive activities and chocolate tastings. Closer to Paris, Bouillon sur Seine opens on 1 October 2026 on the Île Seguin in Boulogne-Billancourt, spanning 1,100 m² with 570 covers and a sweeping terrace overlooking the Seine.
Michelin-starred chef Danny Khezzar, who rose to fame on Top Chef, launches Sheesh in the 2nd arrondissement from 27 September 2026, a first street food venture serving Japanese sandos, burgers and crispy chicken. In the 1st arrondissement, Mégie combines a botanical canteen, a floral boutique and a flower-arranging workshop on the quai de la Mégisserie. And the Grand Véfour, the legendary Palais-Royal restaurant, begins a new chapter with chef Bruno Doucet at the helm and a grand terrace beneath the arcades.
Octobre Rose, Fête de la Science and free museums: what to do in Paris with the family
Throughout October, Octobre Rose mobilises Paris around breast cancer awareness, with conferences, sporting events and screenings running from 1 to 31 October 2026. At the same time, the Fête de la Science takes over Paris and the wider Île-de-France region from 2 to 12 October for its 35th edition, with open laboratories, hands-on workshops, shows and talks all freely accessible to the public and families.
On Sunday 4 October, the first Sunday of the month, museums and monuments across Paris and Île-de-France open their doors for free. It is the perfect opportunity to (re)discover a landmark without spending a cent. For families drawn to Halloween, the Jardin d’Acclimatation goes full Día de los Muertos from 3 October, with entertainment, decorations and shows running through to 1 November 2026.
Finally, Fashion Week runs from 28 September to 6 October 2026 with runway shows, pop-ups and public-facing events, including the L’Oréal Paris show on place Joffre on 28 September featuring Kendall Jenner, Eva Longoria and Jane Fonda. A genuinely packed week for anyone wondering what to do in Paris.
